Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Authorities say two New York City men and a New Jersey man kidnapped another man off a Queens street in broad daylight and held him for over a month, demanding $3 million from his family in Ecuador as ransom.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown says the men have been charged with kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment and face up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

Authorities say the men grabbed 52-year-old Pedro Portugal on April 18, with one of the men pretending to have a police badge. Portugal was kept in a warehouse, where he was beaten and burned with acid.

Brown says Portugal was forced to call his family in Ecuador and ask for the ransom.